The Florida Democratic Party wasted no time responding to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis’ State of the State address to the joint legislative session this week.
Florida Democrats even hit the Governor for the timing of his speech, as a major storm battered North Florida closing all government buildings except for the Capitol, and for his travel schedule on the presidential campaign trail.
“Ron’s insistence on delivering today’s State of the State address before he returns to Iowa tonight showed he had more to say to Iowa voters than actually addressing the issues that matter to Floridians,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried.
During his address, the Republican Florida Governor praised his conservative successes in Florida, but the top Democrat attacked DeSantis’ political agenda.
“Today, Ron spent more time lying about crime rates and repeating culture war attacks than he did addressing rising costs or the property insurance crisis,” FDP Chair Fried said. “Let’s be clear: there is nothing ‘fiscally responsible’ about Ron’s agenda. He passed the largest budget in our state’s history last year, rejected 11 billion dollars of federal funding that would lower costs for Floridians, and has continually failed to address a property insurance crisis that could bankrupt the state.”
The Florida Democratic Party also warned about legislation over the next two months from the Republicans who control the legislature.
“With a State of Emergency declared for 49 counties across the state, we are dealing with the state of emergency Ron’s leadership has created,” FDP Chair Fried said. “Over the next 60 days, Florida Republicans will make it much worse with bills to weaken child labor laws, repeal post-Parkland gun safety laws that have saved lives, and end vote-by-mail. This isn’t what Floridians need and it’s certainly not what voters care about — it’s just another round of political posturing to prop up his failing campaign that does nothing to serve the people of Florida.”
